"Artists include Dave Barker, BB Seaton, Junior Byles, Augustus Pablo, Glen Adams, Willie Lindo, Lloyd Charmers, Cedric Brooks, Richard Ace, and more. Sleeve notes from Steve Barrow and Noel Hawks and superb photographs from Dave Hendley. . . . The music makers from Jamaica had always leaned on American, Cuban, and occasionally British, elements in creating their magic and, in doing so, attained their own voice whose worldwide reputation is out of all proportion to its humble beginnings and circumstances. Like the Jamaican people, whose motto is 'out of many, one people', the roots of Jamaican music are embedded deep in the music of elsewhere but as its branches grew they too spread worldwide. The subsequent repercussions have been of serious significance to the music of the past forty years. Its worldwide influence has long overtaken and superseded its origins: the massive sound systems, dub (the 'remix'), Jamaican MCs and deejays (rap). In fact, the whole transmission system of 'dance music' was pioneered in Jamaican dance halls, which are not 'halls' at all since most dances are open air affairs, where as Josie Wales says 'you could skank your life away...'. Accompanied by extensive contextual and historical sleeve notes from Steve Barrow and Noel Hawks and superb photographs from Dave Hendley. This release is respectfully and affectionately dedicated to Dave's memory and his insightful vision."